L

I was standing on the balcony when I heard Rosé's voice from inside. "Where are you?" she called out. She wasn't happy about being here. Good. She really wasn't going to be happy about it when I was done with her.

I walked inside as she came into the living room wearing her tennis skirt and looking pissed off. I was expecting her to be angry, but it pissed me off that she thought she had the right to be. After the way she had treated Jennie, did she think I wouldn't call her out on it?

"You ruined my plans. This better be good," she snapped.

I set my coffee cup down on the nearest table and turned to look at my sister. "Let me get something straight, because you must need reminding. Unless you want to get a job and pay for all your shit, then I have a say in how you act. I've let you act like a brat most of your life because I love you. I know that life with Mom was unfair for you. But I will not . . ." I paused and took a step toward her and leveled my gaze on her so she could see just how serious I was. "I will not allow you to hurt Jennie. Ever. She has done nothing to you. You blame her for the sorry excuse for a father you have. Jennie is a victim of that man just as much as you are. So do not speak to her like you did today ever again. I swear, Rosé, I love you, but I won't let you hurt her. Do not test me."

Her eyes went wide with surprise, and the fake tears I was used to her springing on me immediately glistened in her eyes. "You're choosing her over me. Are you . . . are you fucking her? That's it, isn't it? That little slut!"

I was in her face so fast that she stumbled backward. I reached out and grabbed her arm to keep her from falling and jerked her back up. "Don't you say it. I swear to God, Rosé, you are going to push me too far. Think before you speak."

She sniffled and let the tears she could turn on like a damn faucet roll down her face. I hated making her cry. The sick knot I got in my stomach when someone hurt her was forming. "I'm . . . I'm your sister. How could you do this to me? I was . . . You know what she did? Who she is? She kept him from me! My father, Lisa. I've lived this life because I didn't have him." She was sobbing now and shaking her head, as if she couldn't believe I could forget all this.

She would never see the truth. She was determined to blame and hate someone, but she refused to hate the person who deserved it the most. "Jennie was a child. She did nothing to you. She couldn't help that she was born. She had no clue you even existed. Why can't you see that? Why can't you see the kind, honest, giving, hardworking person your sister is? No one can hate her! She's fucking perfect!"

"Don't you . . ." She pointed her finger at me, with horror on her face. "Do not call her my sister!" she screamed hysterically.

Sighing, I sat down on the sofa and held my head in my hands. Rosé was so stubborn. "Rosé, you share a father. That makes her your sister," I reminded her.

"No. I don't care. I do not care. I hate her. She's manipulative, and she's fake. She's using sex to control you."

I shot back up out of my seat. "I haven't fucked her, so don't say that! Stop accusing her of shit you know nothing about. Jennie isn't a whore. She's a virgin, Rosé. A virgin. You want to know why she's a virgin? Because she spent her teen years taking care of her sick mother while running the household and going to school. She had no time to be a kid. She had no time to sow any wild oats. She was abandoned by her father for you. So if anyone should hate someone, she should hate you."

Rosé straightened her spine, her tears now dry. Which made this easier on me. I was all Rosé had in the world, and I knew that. I didn't want her thinking I had abandoned her. She was always going to be my little sister. But she was an adult now, and it was time she started acting like one. "And you. She should hate you, too," Rosé said, then turned and headed for the door. I didn't call her back. I was too exhausted to deal with her any more today. I trusted she would leave Jennie alone for now.

I spent the rest of the day pushing Rosé's words from my head. I focused on getting Jennie a phone and then buying the things that I needed to make her a meal. A good one. Something to impress her and get her to talk to me. To forgive me for completely shutting down on her last night.

I knew she wouldn't accept the phone from me, so I left a note in her truck telling her it was from her dad. I hated giving that stupid fucker any credit, but I wanted Jennie to take the phone. I needed her to have a phone for my sanity. If I was going to keep her safe, then she needed it.

Glancing at the time, I realized she was more than likely in her truck by now. I picked up my phone and pressed her number, which I had saved in my phone.


J

I jerked open my truck door glad to be done with the day. My eyes went to a small black box lying on my seat with a note attached. I reached over and picked it up.

Jennie,

It's a phone. You need one. I spoke with your dad and he said to get it for you. It's from him. Talk and text are unlimited so use it as you wish.

Lisa

My dad had told Lisa to get me a phone? Really? I opened the box and a white iPhone complete with a durable case was tucked safely inside. I pulled it out and studied it a moment. I pressed the small round button on the bottom and the screen lit up. My dad hadn't given me a gift since the birthday before he'd left. Before Yeri had died. He'd given us matching electric scooters and helmets.

I climbed into the truck and held my phone in my hand. Could I call my dad on this? It would be nice if he explained to me why he wasn't here. Why he'd sent me to a place where I was unwanted? Had he met Rosé? Surely, he would have known that she wouldn't accept me. Besides, if she was Lisa's sister then she was my stepsister. Was that why she was so mad? I had grown up with less money than her? God, she was cruel.

I tapped on contacts and saw that I only had three numbers saved in my phone. The first one was Jisoo, then Darla, and then Lisa. She'd put her number in here. That surprised me.

The phone started playing a Slacker Demon song I'd heard on the radio before and Lisa's name flashed on the screen. She was calling me.

"Hello," I said, still not sure what to think of this.

"I see you got the phone. Do you like it?" Lisa asked.

"Yes, it's really nice. But why did Dad want me to have it?" He hadn't cared much about anything else I'd needed over the years. This seemed trivial.

"Safety measure. All females need a phone. Especially ones that drive vehicles older than they are. You could break down at any moment."

"I have a gun," I reminded her.

She chuckled. "Yeah, you do, badass. But a gun can't tow your truck."

Point made.

"Are you coming home?" she asked. The way she said "home" like her house was my home too made me feel warm inside. Even if she hadn't meant it that way.

"Yes, if that's okay. I can go do something else if you need me to stay away."

"No. I want you here. I cooked."

She'd cooked? For me? "Oh. Okay. Well, I'll be there in a few minutes."

"See you soon," she said and the line went dead.

Here she went being incredibly strange again.

When I walked into the house the distinct smell of taco seasoning met my nose. I closed the door and headed for the kitchen. If this was actual homemade Mexican food then I was going to be seriously impressed.

Lisa's back was to me as I entered the kitchen.She was humming along to a song I didn't recognize playing over the sound system. It was smoother and slower than what she normally listened to. A bottle of Corona was opened on the bar with a slice of lime on the rim. I'd fixed many just like that while working on the course.

"Smells good," I said. Lisa glanced back over her shoulder and a slow smile spread across her face.

"It is," she replied, wiping her hands on the hand towel beside her. She picked up the Corona and handed it to me. "Here, drink up. The enchiladas are almost finished. I need to flip the quesadillas and they need a few more minutes. We should be ready to eat soon."

I put the Corona to my lips and took a small sip. Mostly for courage. This was not how I expected our next encounter to go. Lisa was a puzzle that I might never figure out.

"I'm hoping you eat Mexican," she said as she pulled the enchiladas out of the oven. Lisa Manoban did not look like someone who belonged in the kitchen cooking. But dang, if she wasn't sexy doing it.

"I love Mexican food," I assured her. "I will admit I'm really impressed that you can cook it."

Lisa looked up at me and winked. "I got all kinds of talents that would blow your mind."

I had no doubt. I swallowed a larger gulp of the Corona.

"Easy girl. You gotta eat something too. When I said drink up I didn't mean for you to gulp it down."

I nodded and wiped off the small drop that was clinging to my bottom lip. Lisa watched me intently. It made my hand shake a little.

She turned her eyes away quickly and started taking the quesadillas off the skillet. She put them on a platter full of hard and soft tacos. There were even burritos. She'd made some of everything.

"Everything else is on the table already. Grab me a Corona out of the fridge and follow me."

I quickly did as I was told and hurried after Lisa. She didn't stop in the dining room. Instead, she stepped outside onto the large back porch overlooking the ocean. Two hurricane lamps stood in the middle of the table so that we could have candlelight without it blowing out.

"Sit. I'll fix your plate," she said, motioning for me to take a seat at the first seat we came to. There were only two out here.

I sat down and Lisa began to dish one of everything onto my plate. Then she put the tray of food down and placed the napkin from beside my plate on my lap. Her mouth was so close to my ear that her warm breath made me shiver.

"Can I get you another drink?" she whispered in my ear before standing back up.

I shook my head. I wouldn't be able to drink if she was going to do things like that. My heart was racing like crazy already. I couldn't swallow a thing like this.

Lisa picked up her drink and took the seat across from me. I watched as she fixed her plate then her eyes lifted to mine. "If you hate it, don't tell me. My ego can't handle it."

I was sure nothing she made would taste bad. I grinned and picked up my fork and knife to cut off a small piece of the enchilada she'd placed on my plate. There was no way I could eat all this but I could taste some of everything.

The minute it touched my tongue it surprised me. It was as good as any I'd eaten at a Mexican restaurant. Smiling, I looked at her. "It's delicious and I can't say I'm surprised."

Lisa put a forkful in her mouth and smirked. Her ego could never be crushed. It might even need to be brought down a few pegs. I started to taste the other things and found myself hungrier than I'd first thought. Everything was so good I didn't want to waste anything.

After my fourth taste of everything on the plate, I knew I had to stop. I sipped my Corona and settled back in my seat. Lisa was washing down her food as well. Once she finished she set the bottle down and her eyes went serious. Uh-oh. We were about to talk about last night. I had wanted to forget last night. Especially since tonight had been so nice.

"I'm sorry about how Rosé treated you today," she said with a pained sincere voice.

"How did you know about that?" I asked suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"Mino called me. He was warning me that Rosé would be asked to leave the next time she was rude to an employee.

Mino was a nice guy. He could be a little too much at times but he was a good boss. I nodded.

"She shouldn't have spoken to you that way. I've had a talk with her. She promised me it wouldn't happen again. But if it does, somewhere else, then please come tell me."

This had been an apology meal for her younger sisters bad behavior, not a mending of fences between us. I wasn't on a romantic date like my imagination had managed to concoct in my head. This was just Lisa apologizing for Rosé.

I pushed my chair back and picked up my plate. "Thank you. I appreciate the gesture. It was very nice of you. I assure you that I don't intend to tattle to Mino if Rosé is rude to me in the future. He just happened to witness it first-hand today." I picked up my drink. "Dinner was lovely. Nice to have after a long day at work. Thank you so much." I didn't make eye contact with her. I just wanted to get away from her.


L

Shit. What did I say wrong? I stood up and followed her inside. Tonight was not ending like this. I was going crazy. Jennie had to stop throwing me so completely off my tracks. I did this as an apology because of my asshole behavior last night and because I wanted to do something for her. Take care of her.

She was washing off her plate in the sink, and the slump in her shoulders broke me.

"Jennie," I said, caging her body against the counter. Her smell filled my head, and I had to close my eyes to keep from getting light-headed. Fuck, that was good. "This wasn't an attempt to apologize for Rosé. It was an attempt to apologize for me. I'm sorry about last night. I lay in bed all night wishing you were there with me. Wishing I hadn't pushed you away. I push people away, Jennie. It's a protective mechanism for me. But I don't want to push you away." I didn't know how else to explain this to her.

She leaned back against me some, and I took that as my green light.

I moved away the hair brushing her shoulder and pressed a kiss to the warm, soft skin there. "Please. Forgive me. One more chance, Jennie. I want this. I want you."

She let out a deep breath, then turned to face me. Her arms went up and wrapped around my neck. Those beautiful blue eyes of her locked on mine. "I'll forgive you on one condition," she said softly.

"OK," I said. I'd give her fucking anything.

"I want to be with you tonight. No more flirting. No more waiting."

Not what I had been expecting, but yes. That was what I wanted. "Hell, yes," I said, and pulled her up against me so I could soak her in. This was it for me.

Jennie was going to be mine after this. I would fight hell for her if I had to.